Agenda

Back to Calendar Return

County Administrator's Report 12. 3.

BCC Regular Meeting

Budget & Finance Consent

Meeting Date:	04/20/2017
Issue: Agreement for SHIP Housing Counseling Services
From:	Tonya Gant
Department:	Neighborhood & Human Svcs
CAO Approval:

RECOMMENDATION:

Recommendation Concerning the Agreement for SHIP Housing Counseling Services - Tonya Gant, Neighborhood & Human Services Department Director

That the Board take the following action concerning the Agreement for State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Housing Counseling Services:

A. Approve the Agreement for SHIP Program Housing Counseling Services with Community Enterprise Investments, Inc. (CEII), in the amount of $44,018, for homebuyer classes and financial and credit counseling services; and

B. Authorize the Chairman or Vice Chairman to execute the Agreement and related forms as required to implement the Agreement.

[Funds: Fund 120, 2017 SHIP, Cost Center 370204]

BACKGROUND:

On November 18, 2016, Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) advised local governments of the availability of funding from National Mortgage Settlement funds allocated to FHFC through the Foreclosure Counseling Program (FCP) to be utilized for housing counseling services. Through Board action on December 8, 2016, Escambia County applied for $44,018 in funds from FHFC (Exhibit I). These one-time funds have been received and budgeted in the 2017 SHIP cost center.

Staff issued a request for proposals from HUD certified counseling agencies as required by the funding source (Exhibit II) to provide free homebuyer classes and financial and credit counseling services. The only two HUD approved counseling agencies in the area are CEII and Consumer Credit Counseling Services (Exhibit III). Consumer Credit Counseling Services of West Florida is no longer in operations in Pensacola. The only response received was from CEII (Exhibit IV).

The Agreement with CEII (Exhibit V) will allow for two activities: homebuyer education classes and financial and credit counseling services. CEII will provide a minimum of 30 new homebuyer education classes over the term of the agreement in addition to the classes already being provided by CEII. Additionally, CEII will offer one on one individual counseling with clients to assist them with debt reduction, cleaning up credit scores, and working toward the goal of purchasing the home. CEII anticipates working with approximately 44 clients under this activity. Pre-purchase homebuyer education classes are required of all homebuyers participating in the SHIP purchase assistance activity (down payment/closing costs) and HOME homebuyer program.

BUDGETARY IMPACT:

Funding is available from 2017 SHIP, Cost Center 370204, which was allocated via Budget Amendment at the February 2, 2017 BCC meeting.

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF:

The Agreement has been reviewed and approved by Kristin Hual, Assistant County Attorney.

PERSONNEL:

Not applicable to this Agreement.

POLICY/REQUIREMENT FOR BOARD ACTION:

Agreement required for SHIP funding.

IMPLEMENTATION/COORDINATION:

Neighborhood Enterprise Division will coordinate implementation of this Agreement with CEII.

Attachments
Ex I-12-2016 BCC mtg
Ex II-SHIP Hsg Counseling RFP
Ex III-HUD Certified Counseling Agencies
Ex IV-CEII RFP Response
Ex V-Hsg Counseling Agreement